PHOTO BY LARRY STATES

East girls basketball coach Mike Eberhart has stepped down after four seasons to pursue his dream of becoming a high school or college athletic director.

I seem to be the bearerer of bad tidings a lot lately when it comes to City Series happenings.

Maybe I can end the high school sports season with some positive news in the next couple of weeks, but this week it's a big coaching loss for Akron Public Schools.

One oif the city's hardest-working coaches announced late last week he was stepping down. East High School girls basketball coach Mike Eberhart is calling it quits after four seasons in that job and an overall total of 18 years of coaching boys and girls basketball.

No, Eberhart isn't washing his hands of high school sports. It's just the opposite, in fact. The 39-year old Eberhart is pursuing his ultimate dream of becoming an athletic director on the high school or college level, and as such is working on a master's degree in athletic administration. He has one year to go to get the degree he'll need to land a job in that field. Eberhart says his responsibilities in the classroom and at home caused him to make the decision to give up coaching the sport he loves. 

"Right now, I just have too much on my plate," Eberhart said. "I'm going for my master's degree, and for me to devote the time I need to attain that degree, I had to give something up. Right now, it's basketball. I still love it, but I just can't be a head coach at this time.

"I've been thinking about becoming an athletic director for the past couple of years. With this degree from Ohio University, I can achieve that goal.

"But It was a very difficult decision to give up coaching. I prayed a lot about it. I'm trying to find ways to balance my time a little bit better. I've never been in a situation where you have to give something up that you love so much, but this is something I had to do for the betterment of everybody." 

I'll always remember the dedication that Mike poured into his job of coaching the girls at East. He compiled extensive statistics on his team, was always available to the media, and although his teams never achieved elite status in the City Series, they always played hard and he was able to obtain scholarships for several of them to pursue a a college degree.

Eberhart said he plans on continuing to help the East players to make it to colllege. He'll remain at the school as a U.S. history teacher, while he finishes pursuing his master's degree.

Mike was always the ambassador for girls high school basketball, and was very active in local coaches associations to promote the sport. Watching him coach, you could feel his passion for the game.

Eberhart moved to East after coaching the girls team at Central-Hower. He also coached for a year at Middletown (Ohio) High School.

Eberhart hopes to have some input in deciding who will replace him as head coach at East. Right now, none of his assistants seem interested in pursuing the top job.

THAT'S IT FOR BUCHTEL STAR: As you've heard by now, Division I football prospect Corey Smith won't be returning to play as a senior wideout at Buchtel. Head coach Ricky Powers confirms he's already been in high school four years and has used up his eligibility. Powers said Smith has made a verbal committment to Tennessee,  but will be required to attend a junior college for at least three semesters to get hs grades and eligibility in order, before he can officially sign with the Volunteers.

FLOSSIE SITUATION IN A HOLDING PATTERN: As of last this week, the Tim Flossie watch continues. The veteran Firestone football coach tells me that he has heard nothing about his fate on accusations he physically abused one of his players last season. It's been a little over a week since he made his statements to school administration officials.

IN A HOLDING PATTERN, TAKE TWO: Also, the four football players who transferred from Firestone to Buchtel for next school year have had their say before the Oohio High School Athletic Association on why they should be able to play this fall for the Griffins without sitting out a year. They're still waiting for a final decision on their eligiblity.

AND FINALLY...: Congratulations to the Buchtel boys and Firestone girls track teams for winning the City Series Championships last Monday during cold conditions at the Orange Bowl in Ellet. Both teams could be contenders for state honors.